Deceived & Honoured - The Baron's Vexing Wife (Love's Second Chance #7)(6)
As though in answer to her thoughts, she heard the faint sound of footsteps as they proceeded down the hall and then stopped just outside the room. The door she had left ajar, almost silently swung open, before slightly louder footsteps crossed the threshold.
Taking a deep breath to calm her fluttering heart, Madeline smiled, then turned to the man she would marry. “Lord Townsend, I must say you?”
As her eyes found his face, half-hidden in the nebulous shadows of the room, her heart stilled in shock and the rest of her words lodged in her throat…for the man standing in the doorway was not Lord Townsend.
“I’m afraid I must disappoint you, my lady,” the man said, his voice harsh with a touch of anger, as he ran a hand through his pitch-black hair.
Had he not spoken, Madeline would have thought him a shadow. Dressed in black from head to toe, the white of his shirt more like a reflection of the moon outside, his dark eyes lay almost hidden in the mask that covered the upper half of his face. He seemed like an apparition, a phantom, the shadow of a memory. As he approached, she found herself watching him, strangely fascinated with the smooth movements that carried him across the floor as though his feet never even touched the ground.
The moment he stepped into the glow of the moonlight, Madeline sucked in a breath for the look on his face sent chills down her back. Without a doubt, she knew that this man was dangerous, his gaze hard and focused like that of a hunter, his tall, muscular frame towering over her, forcing her to tilt up her head. In the dim light, his eyes seemed almost black, and yet, they glowed eerily as they reflected the moonlight, …
…and they held hers with a power so forceful she did not dare look away.
And then he blinked, and the spell was broken.
Swallowing, Madeline drew in a deep breath, trying to focus her thoughts. “Who are you?” she demanded, craning her neck to see behind him. “What are you doing here?” Instantly, fear crawled up her spine. “We must not be seen alone together.”
For a moment, he remained silent, his lips thinning into a hard line as his eyes narrowed, an open accusation resting in them. “You had no such scruples regarding Townsend.”
Madeline almost flinched. Had he been watching her? Where was Lord Townsend? Had he harmed him? Her thoughts ran rampant as they stared at one another, trying to determine what they saw. “Where is he?” Madeline finally demanded. If this man in front of her indeed was a lunatic, then it would not serve her to appear weak.
A snort escaped him. “Back in the ballroom, a clowder of debutantes fawning over him.”
At his words, Madeline felt her muscles tense. Of course, she was aware of her future husband’s reputation. She was not a dimwit and always had an ear out to the gossips. Hell, she was one of them. However, she knew just as well that gossip was never equal to the truth. More than once she had taken note of rumours about herself, which had been far from the truth as well. Therefore, she had always counselled herself not to base her decisions on rumours, on gossip, on the falsehoods of society.
And yet, there and then, in that moment, all her principles failed her. Never in her life had she experienced jealousy. Never had she had any reason to. Never had a man chosen another woman over her.
Never.
“You lie,” she hissed, her nostrils flaring as she stared at him, willing him to reveal his words to be a falsehood. “He would not abandon me.”
A wry grin touched his lips. “He had help.”
Frowning, Madeline took a step forward. She’d be damned if she let this stranger intimidate her! “Yours?” she pressed, daring him to reveal his own involvement.
Holding her gaze without flinching, without the slightest sign of hesitation or uncertainty, he lowered his head toward hers. “Yes,” was all he said, and the look in his eyes dared her to attack him with all the anger she felt.
Lips pressed together, Madeline inhaled deeply through her nose, seeking to steady her shaking hands. Lashing out at him would serve no one. It would only draw unwanted attention.
Above all else, she had to get rid of this man, and then see to Lord Townsend, ensure his well-being. “Leave. Now,” she hissed, jerking her chin toward the door.
He swallowed then, and for a moment, she thought he would comply. However, instead of retreating, he took another step toward her, the look in his eyes faintly softened by something resembling honest concern.
Madeline was utterly flabbergasted. Who was this man?
Then he opened his mouth, and his voice was almost gentle as he spoke. “I followed you tonight because?”
Madeline sucked in a sharp breath. “You followed me? Why?” Again, panic seized her as she remembered all those many moments gentlemen had tried to catch her alone to compromise her, to trap her into marriage, to take the choice out of her hands.
Always had she seen them coming, seen their intentions and thwarted their plans.
Often, she had prided herself on her ability to read people, to know what they thought.
Only this man was different.
She had not seen him coming.
She could not even recall laying eyes on him.
It was as though he had appeared out of thin air.
“What is going on here?”
At the sound of her aunt’s voice, Madeline jerked her head toward the door, which now stood wide open, revealing a bunch of old matrons staring in, their eyes widened in shock as they took in the scene.